Safe Kids has a message for all parents: “Never leave your child alone in a car.”
That’s the group’s campaign that launched in May in Palm Beach County, where a child's death has now prompted new safety requirements for daycare owners.
Haile Brockington, 2, died after being left inside her daycare center van for hours on Aug 5, 2010. A year later, the Palm Beach County Commission has passed an ordinance requiring daycare centers to equip their vans with alarms.
“I certainly see that things happen and people don’t always follow the rules and having an extra alarm system is an extra security system for us,” said Eric Epstein, owner of ABC Children’s Learning Academy.
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Most of the alarms work by sounding when the ignition is turned off. There are also wireless systems that work through text messaging. It lets multiple people know when the van has arrived. All daycare owners in Palm Beach will have until September 2012 to comply.
Last year in the US, a record number 49 children died of hyperthermia after being left inside steaming cars and vans. Florida is second in the nation for these deaths. Jennifer Belyeu is the coordinator of Safe Kids Broward headquartered at Joe Dimaggio Children's Hospital.
She suggests leaving your cell phone or purse in the backseat so you see the child when you leave the car. A stuffed toy in the passenger seat can also be used as a reminder. For other safety tips click on this link:
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